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SIU Concludes Investigation into Toronto Crash

TORONTO, Feb. 23 /CNW/ - The Director of the Special Investigations Unit
(SIU) has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an
officer of the Toronto Police Service (TPS) committed any criminal offence in
relation to the injuries sustained by a 42 year old Toronto man earlier this
year.
On January 3, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. a TPS officer attempted to stop a
reportedly stolen car in the area of Yonge Street and Dundas Street. The
officer activated the emergency equipment on his police car, but the driver of
the car did not stop. The officer followed the car along Dundas Street until
it was held up by heavy traffic at University Avenue. The officer got out of
his police car, approached the vehicle, and ordered the driver, 42 year old
Richard Audit, to get out. Instead of getting out of the car Mr. Audit drove
the car back and forth. A number of citizens' vehicles were struck during this
process. Mr. Audit was able to emerge from the traffic and began to drive
away. The officer was dragged a short distance by the car before he fell to
the pavement and sustained minor injuries.
Mr. Audit drove south on University Avenue, but lost control of the car
in the area of Queen Street. The car struck a concrete planter in the
boulevard. Mr. Audit sustained a broken leg in the crash.
The Director of the SIU Ian Scott said, "There are no reasonable grounds
to believe that the officer involved in this matter committed a criminal
offence in relation to the motor vehicle accident involving Mr. Audit. The
officer was attempting to apprehend Mr. Audit who was reportedly driving a
stolen car. Mr. Audit did not comply with the officer's demand to leave the
car and attempted to escape, ultimately crashing the vehicle into a cement
planter on the University Avenue boulevard, fracturing his leg in the
process." Director Scott added, "Mr. Audit chose to ignore the officer's
lawful demands and injured himself in the ensuing flight. I am satisfied on
reasonable grounds that the officer cannot be held criminally liable for Mr.
Audit's injuries."
The SIU is a civilian agency that investigates cases of serious injuries
(including allegations of sexual assault) and deaths involving the police.
Pursuant to section 113 of the Police Services Act, the Director of the SIU is
mandated to consider whether a criminal offence has been committed by an
officer(s) in connection with the incident under investigation and, where
warranted by the evidence, to cause a criminal charge or charges to be laid
against the officer(s). The Director reports the results of investigations to
the Attorney General.